Wet bars are excellent additions to gathering spaces because they make entertaining guests more convenient. Wet bars differ from dry bars because they contain drainage systems and provide a water source for more convenient drink mixing and cleaning. With a wet bar, you can mix drinks and clean spills easily without leaving your entertainment space. Adding a sink to a wet bar is much simpler and requires less labor when you purchase a wet bar drain pump system.
Wet bar drain pumps allow homeowners to add a drain almost anywhere in their home, which is especially convenient in basements where plumbing is challenging. With a drain pump, you can easily add a wet bar to your basement and enhance your home.
What Is the Difference Between a Dry Bar and a Wet Bar?
Wet and dry bars are excellent home additions for entertaining purposes because they contain storage and counter space. Both types of bars provide space to store drinks, dishes, snacks and other entertaining supplies so you can easily reach what you need.
Having what you need close by is convenient when you spend time with family or friends in your basement gathering space because you can avoid walking back and forth between your kitchen and your basement. While wet and dry bars both enhance basement spaces, wet bars add a little extra convenience. The main difference between a wet bar and a dry bar is that a wet bar includes a water source to accommodate fixtures such as a sink, dishwasher or ice maker.
Another difference between wet bars and dry bars is that wet bars require different parts for installation. Adding a water source to a bar requires a drainage system to effectively move used water out of the home. A high-quality drainage system makes it possible to add a wet bar with convenient water fixtures to a basement.
Benefits of Adding a Wet Bar to Your Basement
You can entertain guests with a dry bar or a wet bar, but a wet bar is more convenient. Adding a wet bar to your basement allows you to entertain guests easily and enhances your basement appearance. A bar can be a beautiful addition to any basement space.
A wet bar is much more convenient than a dry bar because it makes entertaining easier. With a wet bar, you can access water quickly, make ice and wash dishes without walking back and forth between your basement and kitchen.
A wet bar can also increase your home’s value. If you choose to sell your home in the future, you can impress potential buyers with a wet bar. Homebuyers may find your home more attractive and valuable because they can keep and use the existing wet bar or use its drainage system to install their own wet bar.
When to Add a Wet Bar to Your Basement
While wet bars typically cost more to install than dry bars, they can significantly enhance your basement space, depending on your lifestyle and entertaining preferences. A family that spends minimal time in their basement and rarely entertains guests may choose a dry bar, but families who use their basements often can benefit from a wet bar.
If you are deciding between a wet and dry bar, it’s essential to consider your entertaining style and how you wish to use your basement. A wet bar is an excellent choice if you value the following factors:
Convenience
Adding a wet bar to your basement can help you create a relaxing space. While dry bars provide storage space so you can easily reach drinks and prepare snacks, wet bars eliminate the need to travel upstairs to rinse dishes, clean ups spills or gather ice. A wet bar makes entertaining more convenient because it provides a water source in the space you want to spend your time.
More Time With Friends and Family
The convenience of a wet bar also allows you to spend more time with friends and family. If you have a dry bar, you may find that you often excuse yourself upstairs to rinse glasses, wash your blender to make more drinks or wash your hands. With a wet bar, you can be more present with your loved ones and spend your time interacting with guests because you have a water source in the room when you need it.
Ability to Serve Multiple Beverages
A wet bar allows you to serve more drinks without needing to rinse glasses upstairs. A dry bar may accommodate your needs if you only serve one or two drinks to each guest when they visit, but a wet bar is an excellent choice if you enjoy hosting longer events and serving multiple drinks to each guest. With a wet bar, you or your guests can easily rinse your glasses out and refill drinks without leaving the basement.
Having a wet bar also makes it easier to serve more complex drinks. Having a sink and ice nearby allows you to easily use a blender and wash it out if you want to mix different flavors. With a wet bar, you can enhance your guests’ experiences and create a fun space to enjoy time with your favorite people.
What Do You Need for a Wet Bar?
A wet bar installation requires the following components:
- Countertop and cabinets: Cabinets hold all of your wet bar necessities such as drinking glasses, towels and serving trays. A countertop rests on top as a surface for preparing food and drinks.
- Sink: A sink is what differentiates a wet bar from a dry bar and makes it such a convenient fixture.
- Drainage pipe: A drainage pipe extends below a sink to drain water.
- Drain pump system: A drain pump system is an easy solution for sink water drainage.
- Sump basin: A sump basin holds a drain pump system and holds water until the system’s float switch activates it to start pumping water out of the home.
- Vent: Vents are crucial for any plumbing fixtures because adequate venting prevents water drainage flow from creating negative pressure.
Fun Wet Bar Additions
When you have all of the components you need to install a wet bar, you can compile some ideas for fun additions. While a sink and drainage system is essential for a wet bar, you can use your creativity and design preferences to decide which optional items you want to include. You can enhance your wet bar with some or all of the following features:
- Various cabinet colors and options: Your wet bar can be a beautiful focal point in your basement. Choose your favorite wood type and paint colors to style your cabinets and create the aesthetic you desire. You can also opt for custom-designed cabinets.
- Dishwasher: With a water source and drainage system in your bar, you can add a dishwasher and enhance the bar’s convenience. After each party, simply load your glasses and dishes in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
- Fridge: Adding a fridge under the bar further reduces your trips to the kitchen because you can store cold foods under the bar, making it easy to prepare appetizers, snacks and beverage garnishes.
- Wine cooler: A wine cooler is an excellent addition to a wet bar if you have an extensive wine collection.
- Ice maker: Adding an ice maker to your wet bar can keep your parties running smoothly.
- Display shelves: Add some display shelves above your wet bar to show off your collection of beverages, beautiful wine glasses, gorgeous house plants or family photos. Display shelves can add the perfect touch to a wine bar and make your basement even more inviting.
- Bar stools: Bar stools add an excellent touch to wine bars. With bar stools, your friends and family can gather around the bar comfortably and enjoy conversations over food and drinks as you prepare them.
- Microwave: Whether you microwave popcorn for a fun family movie night or heat some appetizers for a party, a microwave can enhance your wet bar.
How to Add a Sink to a Wet Bar
Adding a sink to a wet bar requires connecting a drainage pipe to the basement’s existing plumbing, which is not always in an ideal location for additional plumbing fixtures. There are two ways to connect a drainage pipe to a basement’s existing plumbing fixtures. One option is to hire a professional to break through the concrete floor, which can be expensive, labor-intensive and challenging. An easier and more cost-effective option is to have a professional install a drain pump.
If a direct drainage line is not available under a sink, a drain pump system can effectively remove wastewater. A home’s main wastewater drain is typically above its basement level, which means the wastewater must travel upward to exit the home if it relies on the main wastewater drain. An automatic sink pump system is a simple plumbing solution that can help prevent wet bar drainage issues.
How Does a Wet Bar Drain Pump System Work?
A wet bar drain pump system’s sump basin is placed in a sump pit, which is a pit that is cut into the basement floor. The sump basin collects wastewater until the water reaches a certain level. Once it reaches the system’s threshold, the water lifts the system’s movable float switch, which triggers the utility pump to drain the wastewater.
After the pump drains the wastewater in the sump basin, the float lowers and signals the system to stop pumping water. If a basement area contains several water fixtures, a professional will slope their drain lines toward the sump basin so all of the wastewater drains to the same location. Average homes benefit from a typical sump basin, which can hold approximately 30 wastewater gallons.
How to Maintain a Wet Bar Drain Pump
Properly maintaining your wet bar drain pump can increase its life span and prevent basement flooding. You can maintain your drain pump with the following tips:
- Inspect your system for wear and tear: Pay attention to potential signs of damage. A jammed impeller can cause rattling noises, and loud motor vibrations can indicate your motor’s impeller is bent. Internal wiring complications can cause the pump to power on and off without activation. Noticing these signs of wear and tear is important because you can call a professional to repair the damage and preserve the system.
- Ensure equipment remains covered: Covering equipment prevents sediment, lint and solid debris from entering your system and clogging it. Your sink pump’s covering should only contain holes for its wires and drain pipe.
- Check your sink pump’s status monthly: You should check to ensure your pump is operating correctly at least once each month. To check your pump, connect it to its power source and fill the sump basin with water. Notice how your pump operates and listen for any odd sounds that could indicate the system needs maintenance.
- Replace parts when needed: You may need to periodically replace different parts of your sink pump. Your unit’s age can indicate when you will need to replace various parts.
- Clean the pump regularly: Cleaning your pump regularly allows you to check for potential issues and increase your pump’s life span.
How to Clean a Wet Bar Drain Pump
Proper cleaning helps to maintain a wet bar drain pump and keep it free of potentially harmful debris. If you do not feel confident cleaning the drain pump yourself, you can ask a professional for assistance. Follow these steps to clean your drain pump:
- Disconnect the pump’s power: Turn off the pump’s power source and remove the pump’s power cord from its outlet to prevent electrical accidents. This is an important step because it prevents safety hazards. You can also remove the pump from the sump pit to make cleaning easier.
- Wrap a tarp around the pump: Wrap a tarp or plastic sheet around the bottom of your pump to protect it.
- Remove debris and residue: Use a garden hose to spray the pump and remove loose residue and debris. Gently scrape the pump’s surface with a scraping tool if any residue is stuck on it.
- Rinse the pump: Rinse any remaining residue off the pump using a hose.
- Drain the pump’s check valve: Hold a bucket under the pump’s drainage pipe and catch the water that drains from the check valve.
- Clear the sump pit: Use a vacuum to clear any remaining debris, residue and water from the sump pit.
- Reconnect the pump: Return your pump to the sump pit, reattach all components in their original positions, reconnect the pump’s power cord and turn the breaker on.
Install a Wet Bar With Star Water Systems’ Drainmaker Wet Bar System
A wet bar can significantly enhance your home’s basement. Having storage and counter space with a water source allows you to mix drinks, prepare food and clean spills quickly and easily, giving you more time to mingle with your guests. Installing a wet bar in your basement can also increase your home’s value should you decide to sell in the future.
Adding a wet bar to your home requires proper drainage, and the Star Water Systems Drainmaker Wet Bar System is an excellent solution. This high-quality drainage solution is completely automatic and can effectively drain water from almost anywhere in your basement. Find a retailer near you to add the Drainmaker Wet Bar System to your home.
